TORCON SPEECH IN ASIMOV’S

November 16, 2004

Most of you will recall that I was the Professional Guest of Honor at Torcon 3, the World Science Fiction Convention held in Toronto over Labor Day weekend in 2003. Some of you were ever there, to share the fun with me.

A worldcon GOHship is the highest honor that our field can bestow, so it was quite a thrill for me. Part of the gig is giving a speech, of course, and since the honor is such a huge one there is a certain amount of pressure to make it a good speech. After all, it’s usually a once-in-a-lifetime gig.

My speech was called “The Heart of a Small Boy.” I delivered it to a crowded room in Toronto, where it seemed to be quite well received… but the crowded room was not as large as it might have been, alas, and in any case most of you reading this were not at the convention.

So I am pleased to say that ASIMOV’S SCIENCE FICTION has just printed the full text of “The Heart of a Small Boy” in its October/ November issue, as a guest editorial. All those of you who could not be with us in Toronto to hear the speech in person can read it now.

It’s not about A Song of Ice and Fire, which may disappoint some of you. It’s not about the state of the field or fans being slans either (two traditional subjects for GOH speeches). It’s about me, who I am and where I came from and why I write some of the things I do. If that interests you, check it out.